LIHUE — Mokihana Aquatics swimmer Tyler Tanaka, 11, did it again — being named Swimmer of the Meet for the two-day Distance Time Trials which ended Sunday at the Kauai High School pool. “Make it two in a row for
LIHUE — Mokihana Aquatics swimmer Tyler Tanaka, 11, did it again — being named Swimmer of the Meet for the two-day Distance Time Trials which ended Sunday at the Kauai High School pool.
“Make it two in a row for Tyler Tanaka,” said Mokihana Aquatics coach Orlando “O” Anaya. “After coming off his Swimmer of the Meet at the Ken Suenaga Invitational just last weekend, he comes back just six days later and has a perfect meet, making all HI-AA time standards.”
Tanaka chopped 52.57 seconds from his 500 freestyle, touching the wall at 6 minutes, 38.59 seconds for a HI-AA time, and jumped into the 400 Individual Medley for his first swim in the event for a 6:16.49 effort which was another HI-AA time.
“Just last week, Tyler had two HI-AA times,” Anaya said. “Now, he has five. His IMs took him over the top, swimming the 200 IM faster than he ever has in his life. He then gets out of the water and straight onto the blocks and starts a 400 IM with less than a minute’s rest in swimming a race he never swam before. He swam aggressively and makes a HI-AA time swimming the 400 IM for the very first time. Very well-deserved Swimmer of the Meet honor.”
Elijah Adams, 9, joined Chloe Inouye, 9, in posting perfect meets as well, Elijah getting his biggest improvement in the 200 IM (4:08.99) with a 15.54 improvement and Inouye’s strongest showing also coming in the 200 IM (3:14.43) with an 8.43 improvement and following that with a 7.81 improvement in the 200 freestyle (2:43.97). All three of her events earned HI-AA time standards.
Silas Adams, 7, had his strongest swim in the 200 freestyle (5:34.60) where he shaved 23.29 seconds off his seeded swim, and Alfred Auger, 9, posted two strong best times, improving in the 200 freestyle (3:35.63) by 17.96 to lead his best swims.
Sara Funtanilla, 14, marked a HI-A time in her 400 IM (6:04.24) where she improved by 21.45, and Katherine Hoesel, 11, chopped 26.36 off her 500 freestyle (9:42.43).
Madeline Hoesel, 13, finished with three personal bests, her best showing coming in the 1,000 freestyle (13:28.75) where she chopped 20.70.
Leigh Idica, 10, cleaned 64.94 off her 500 freestyle (6:36.60) for a second place finish in the event, and Ian Raquel, 10, polished 58.97 off his 500 freestyle (8:21.32).
Kamaira Silva, 10, posted her personal best in the 500 freestyle (7:17.93) for a 35.53 improvement and Samantha Stokes, 12, wowed the coaches in the 1,650 freestyle (25:04.92) for a 105.31 improvement.
“Our officials were great; parents awesome, and swimmers incredible,” Anaya said. “What a great way to end Mokihana Aquatics’ 34th short course season.”
